7 NOVEMBER 1952, Page 5

One passage in Lord Samuel's own speech on Monday con-

awed a phrase that was intentionally or unintentionally ignificant. For forty years, he said, we have had on the rone " men of high character and prudent judgement." Why orty? The fiftieth anniversary of Lord Samuel's own first elec- ion to Parliament was being celebrated. If he had gone back fty years he would have been nearer to the accession of ward VII than, by-choosing forty, he was to the accession 1 George V in 1910. Yet he chose forty as representing the pace of years in which we had been ruled by men of high integrity and prudent judgement. If a distinction is deliberately to be made between forty and fifty I am with Lord Samuel in choosing forty.